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On December 5th, 2024 Life Project 4 Youth (LP4Y) Jakarta held its End-of-Year Breakfast at Training Development Center (TDC) Jakarta, bringing together key partners, Youth, and LP4Y team members to celebrate a remarkable year of achievements. This event wasn’t just a breakfast, it was a testament to the power of collaboration , the dedication of our partners , and the transformation of the Youth we accompanied.  Despite the logistical challenges of road closures and ongoing construction, the partners' dedication to attend the event highlighted their strong commitment to LP4Y’s mission of empowering underprivileged Youth. Since its launch in 2016, the TDC Jakarta has accompanied 516 Youth , 76% of whom have successfully secured stable employment . In 2024, LP4Y Jakarta organized 275 mock interviews and 143 collaborative training sessions , preparing Youth to thrive in the professional world. Coll aboration has been at the heart of our success, with 49 active partnerships facilitating over 508 professional exposure activities , ranging from company visits and internships to training sessions and mock interviews. A highlight of the year was the Metro TV visit , where Youth independently planned and executed a corporate engagement, showing their professionalism and readiness for the workforce. Celebrating Together: Highlights from the End-of-the-Year Breakfast The breakfast was designed as an intimate yet dynamic event, attended by key partners such as Hyatt Foundation (Alila SCBD, Grand Hyatt, Park Hyatt), MANE Indonesia , ID Logistics , Forvis Mazars , Schneider Electric , Concentrix , Japan Airlines , Kampus Diakonia Modern Foundation , Red Nose Foundation , Decathlon Indonesia , Schneider Electric , Technicoflor Indonesia and others. The program included: Icebreaker Activity:  A stretching session led by the Youth with music to set a relaxed and friendly tone. Youth-Led Presentations : Two Youth as MCs, confidently guiding the event. Videos capturing key moments from 2024, including collaborative projects and testimonies from Youth. Interactive Workshop: Partners contributed ideas and feedback on large manila papers, responding to prompts like “What skills do you think are important to work in your company?” and “What activities would you like to organize with LP4Y in 2025?” The activity sparked meaningful discussions and opened doors to future collaborations. Networking Session:  The friendly yet professional atmosphere encouraged Youth to approach partners directly, securing six business cards and discussing potential internships and opportunities. As part of the breakfast, partners were invited to share their experiences of working with LP4Y and the Youth. Their testimonies highlighted how empowering Youth benefits not just the individuals but also the organizations and communities that support them. Testimonials is also emphasized the mutual benefits of the collaboration: Ludovic Bouvier, Director at ID Logistics Indonesia , shared: Giving trust and teaching new skills is the best investment we can make in their future. Seeing the Youth grow and succeed in their internships gives us confidence that we’re contributing to lasting change. Sebastian Gautier, Managing Partner at Forvis Mazars Indonesia and IFCCI President , reflected on the partnership: Collaborating with LP4Y has been incredibly rewarding, not just for the Youth, but for our employees as well. It has fostered inclusivity, mutual learning, and a deeper understanding of the importance of empowering communities. We’re excited to continue this partnership and create even more opportunities in 2025. The testimonials didn’t just highlight LP4Y’s impact, they also underlined the enthusiasm and trust our partners have in our mission. Youth Testimony: The Power of Transformation During the event, we celebrated the 6th anniversary of the RiseHy program , a collaboration between Hyatt Foundation and LP4Y global that has opened doors in the hospitality industry for marginalized Youth. Sadiyan Al Fudilah  as Youth testimony is part of the RiseHy program at Alila SCBD Jakarta, shared his story: First of all, I would like to express my gratitude to Allah SWT for being given the opportunity to attend this event. I also want to thank LP4Y for the incredible year during training and the career guidance after I graduated, and Alila SCBD Jakarta for accepting me into the RiseHy program. I had incredible time in LP4Y Jakarta, I learnt to be professional and also had chance to join many companies visits and internship such as in Forvis Mazars for a month and applied for Risehy Program. Since March, I’ve been part of the Banquet or Event Service department at Alila SCBD Jakarta. Over the past nine months, I’ve gained invaluable experience, from learning about wine and setting up meeting rooms in various styles to handling guests with professionalism. The seniors in the Banquet team have been incredible mentors, always guiding me and sharing their knowledge generously. This program has been a life-changing opportunity, and I hope RiseHy continues to grow, providing even more chances for LP4Y Youth those interested in the hospitality industry like me. You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great. Stories like Sadiyan remind us that investing in Youth is not just about equipping them with technical skills, it’s about building their confidence, broadening their perspectives, and giving them the tools to stand for their life.  A Vision for the Future It was a morning filled with reflection, inspiration, and commitment to building a brighter future. The event wasn’t just a celebration of past achievements, it was a launch for inspiring change in 2025 . LP4Y Jakarta outlined three ambitious goals for the year ahead: Co-creating Projects Across Indonesia : Expanding outreach by collaborating with local communities and organizations to address unique regional challenges. Empowering Youth as Catalysts of Change : Equipping Youth with leadership and professional skills to drive progress within their communities. Advocating for Youth Rights and Decent Salaries : Promoting equitable working conditions and wages for young workers through national campaigns and partnerships. Let us together pave the way for contributing to more advanced and equal opportunities for everyone. As we close this meaningful gathering, we invite the partners and you, the reader, to be part of this movement to break the cycle of poverty for Youth in Indonesia. Here's how you can contribute to the LP4Y mission: Professional Integration:  Offer job opportunities and mentorship to excluded Youth. Company Visits : Host Youth for a firsthand experience of corporate culture. Professional Training : Share your expertise to shape entrepreneurial mindsets. Mock Interviews and Internships:  Help Youth gain practical, real-world experience. Testimonies : Inspire others by sharing your CSR journey with LP4Y. Financial Support:  Fund training and development programs to ensure lasting impact. LP4Y Jakarta committed to its mission of empowering underprivileged Youth through professional integration. With the continued support of the incredible partners and supportive ecosystem, LP4Y Jakarta is ready to inspire change, one step at a time, and to create even greater impact in the coming year.

I’m part of a big family from West Central Luzon in the Philippines. Both of my parents had their own families before they got married. At first, I thought having 16 siblings would make me happy, but as the years passed, I realized that my siblings on my father’s side didn’t accept us . I endured not being accepted by them, but it hurt because I didn’t understand why. Despite the family situation, I was happy and full of dreams! As a child, I dreamed of becoming a teacher — to stand in front of a classroom and share knowledge with young learners. I remember how happy I was until I experienced bullying in elementary school. I was bullied for having a darker complexion and being very thin . They even threw rocks at me. My parents transferred me to another school, but the experience left me scared to make friends. This fear led me to make mistakes, one of which changed my life forever. It resulted in my father beating me with a stick until my back was bruised. My family just watched, and I felt utterly helpless. From that point on, I started keeping everything to myself — my feelings, my needs, everything. I pushed myself to excel in school while working to provide for my needs . Eventually, I graduated from high school. At 15, I was determined to continue my education, holding on to my dreams and motivation. I worked as a housemaid in Pasig while studying Computer Secretarial, a vocational course that I thought would help me find a better job. Unfortunately, my elder sister asked me to stop studying and work full-time to support the family . I was torn between pursuing my dream and helping my younger siblings with their daily needs. Could I find a job with my limited educational background? Did I have the skills and qualities companies wanted?  These questions lingered in my mind, and no one could answer them but me. I choose to support my family , even though I felt scared and neglected. I worked as a service crew member to help my two siblings with their studies and provide for their needs. My routine was to receive my salary and immediately hand it over to my family. Over time, I didn’t realize that the dream-filled, motivated version of myself was fading . Living in a faraway city, struggling to survive, I drank water to quell my hunger, asked for places to stay because I couldn’t afford rent, and walked for two hours to save money. I envied young adults who could enjoy life and pursue their dreams. In my desperation, I began to wonder how I could develop skills and qualities to secure a better future. I applied for various jobs but faced countless rejections due to my educational background and lack of experience. The rejections and discrimination devastated me. I kept asking myself: " How can I find a job that allows me to learn while supporting my family?" One morning, a Youth from LP4Y invited me to join their training program. I joined the Training & Development Center (TDC) in Tondo in 2018. Initially, I thought LP4Y was a school with professors and students, but on my first day, I saw a sewing machine. I doubted whether I should stay because I needed to support my family. But something about the environment — free from bullying, judgment, and discrimination — made me feel safe . I am grateful for my face-to-face sessions with Julia, who supported me throughout the training. For the first time in years, I felt free to share what was inside me. During the training, I discovered new skills such as sewing, embroidery, selling products, teamwork, organizational skills for managing a micro-business, and improving my English. These skills helped me achieve my short-term goal: becoming a customer service associate in a BPO company . I transformed from a shy, fearful Youth afraid of judgment into a woman who could confidently express her opinions, smile genuinely, and recognize her worth in society. I developed vigorous strength in overcoming adversity and facing challenges with renewed confidence . Julia (Sherlyn's former Coach) and Sherlyn in Manila After completing my professional training in LP4Y, I achieved my goal and became a customer service associate at Alorica. I handled an Amazon account, ensuring customer orders were delivered and providing exceptional service. The training I received at LP4Y gave me an edge in performing my tasks. While working as a CSR, I volunteered on my days off at TDC Tondo, sharing my knowledge about the role. Although I was happy, I wanted to pursue something more meaningful. After two years, I decided to resign and applied to join LP4Y as part of the movement to fight for Youth inclusion. At first, I thought being a Catalyst would be easy, but I was wrong! This role requires a genuine eagerness to empower young people, the ability to think quickly and find urgent solutions, and the dedication to accompany Youths throughout their training journey, helping them identify their life projects and guiding them toward integration into society. I served as a Coach at TDC Tondo for two years, an experience that truly changed my life. While accompanying the Youths, I often reflected on my own journey. Through one-on-one sessions, I provided guidance to help them discover their skills and qualities, and I shared my own testimony to inspire them . What I loved most about my mission as a Coach was visiting the families of the Youths and learning about their daily lives. These moments allowed me to understand their challenges and aspirations, making my role even more meaningful. However, I believed that as a Catalyst, I needed to challenge myself further by accepting a new role : becoming a Green Village Leader. My biggest challenge was figuring out how to be a good leader. What if I couldn’t do the job properly? What if I wasn’t fit for this role? I began to question my capabilities again, but I was brave enough to face these new challenges. In this position, I am responsible for ensuring that the center operates efficiently. This includes supporting the Coaches in implementing the pedagogy, ensuring the safety of the Catalysts and Youths, managing the workers responsible for the center's maintenance and repairs, being solution-oriented in any situation, handling financial responsibilities, and developing strategies for the center’s improvement. I am extremely excited about the new opportunities and the chance to work in a green environment. I started this role in February 2024 and have been discovering more about myself. For example, I’ve started painting to pass the time, exercising to boost my immune system, and creating concrete plans for my future. This incredible journey comes with struggles and challenges. However, being part of this organization since I was a Youth has allowed me to discover who I am, empower myself and others, express my feelings openly, and most importantly, share my opinions because they matter. I am proud of myself for accompanying excluded Youths in the program, but I am genuinely happy to have empowered my family to stand on their own . I was able to support my two younger siblings through senior high school until they found their first jobs. Since 2023, they have been helping me build our concrete house in the province, which is almost finished. They also support me financially, which has allowed me to save and think more about my future. I am Sherlyn Caasi, an excluded Youth from Tondo Manila, the Philippines who believes that being a Catalyst means believing that an empowered Youth will, in turn, drive positive change.

Namaste! First of all I am very much grateful to this project who has provide me a golden opportunity to share about me and my story and here's where my story begins. It's me, Manisha Shrestha. Formally known as Manisha Katuwal while being at the Green Village (GV). I am from Chaubise Dhankuta, and currently residing at Godawari, Lalitpur (Nepal). My journey of LP4Y began when the team mobilization team visited CPCS Godawari, where I was staying. I got to know about LP4Y project which increased my interest to join to understand more about LP4Y and I went Training and Development Center Nepal which is located in Tinkune. After knowing about the project I decided to utilize my free time by joining 3 months professional life skill training of the LP4Y project. I joined the training in August 2022. Green Village Nepal is a part of LP4Y project that aims to accompany young women towards professional integration by equipping them with life and soft skills, which is located nearby Greenery nature. Everybody has their unique hidden talents, which needs a proper and perfect environment to grow and Green Village has helped those last lights to burn brighter and to grow in the form of professionalism. There were four micro-companies including Restaurant, Event Organizer, Digital and Sustainable with its own purpose, where we had to give mock interviews to be in the company of our choice . I was successfully hired at Event Organizing micro-company as an inventory officer. I started to work as an inventory officer with my different friends, who belonged to different backgrounds. I was totally unaware about professional life before joining the GV. But later on, I got a chance to learn about the profession process of inventory management as well as learnt about the huge differences between fake and real Job Market and the companies. Beside that, I found an environment where many Youths get chances to sharpen their skill  through training. I was a shy person when presenting myself and to speak in front of people was one of my biggest fears but slowly it changed. Soon, I was able to organize awareness workshops among community people. While working with the team at GV, I learnt to find beauty in working with different people from different backgrounds. I was able to experience the power in Unity, which has helped me a lot now as well. Two months in Event Company was such an amazing experience. The last month of the training was based on job search, where we did door to door to find decent jobs by ourselves which helps us to be independent on what we want and how we want. I learnt to use Google Maps as an important tool of modern life. While going door to door, I was selected for the job at the Head Office of Labim Mall Company and had an interview with the HR office of that company, while doing an interview with Team Leader of Orchid Company. Unfortunately I failed to get a job in that Company due to lack of citizenship. The silent struggle of denied access to essential rights and opportunities was my biggest problem. I got many job opportunities but due to the lack of a citizenship Card, I was denied the jobs , which made me feel down. I was losing all hopes towards life. Everything became blank, my confidence, my skills. I was suffering from anxiety and lost all my patience even though I decided to talk about it with the Coach. They found a partner named Kritan Adhikari, who was a legal adviser. Even after completing 3 months training (Entrepreneur step), I continued to have a followup with Kritan and my Coach of the center. After 7 months of followup to various government offices to fight for citizenship and doing a search on the local places where I used to live before 15, I found my step father with the help of local people from the community and successfully made a citizenship Card. Achieving a proof of nationality as a citizenship Card was my biggest success ever in life . As always, I will be much grateful to every members of LP4Y project including Kritan Adhikari and CPCS staff for unconditionally helping me to achieve my rights.   In 2022 I joined the STAR club  (LP4Y alumni network) which is an autonomous and a huge part of LP4Y project. It's a group of those motivated Entrepreneurs who had successfully completed the 3-month Entrepreneur step. There are 6 important positions to form the club. I am the event ambassador of STAR club. I organize events and workshops, raise awareness and maintain the processes of every step of the event. Workshops are my main responsibility. We have different responsibilities as our position in the club with which we work together to achieve together. Growing together to achieve more has become our main Motto of the club. Besides, it I am currently studying for a Bachelor second year and working as an inventory officer at CPCS Organization . My work has become better  now due to my team working experience from GV. I am working freely now and have basic rights as normal people do due to citizenship card. Imagine belonging to a country but lacking the basic proof of citizenship and being denied access to essential rights and opportunities due to the absence of a citizenship card. It creates a silent struggle for countless individuals. Therefore, I want to raise my voice on it. Working with young adult like me and the small kind kids has become one of the greatest environments to grow together for the bright future. In the future, I want to write a story about my journey so that I can share a spark to those who have been feeling lost on their journey. My journey taught me to find strengths in the darkest moment, during obstacles of my life where I had almost lost my hopes. Therefore: You are capable for brighter days! I believe that everything happens for beautiful reasons in life. To those Stars who can shine brighter than they imagine, please let your hope be your compass to your aimed direction , because it’s the light in the heart’s tunnel.

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